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Testing Schedule |
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Testing at University of Henry Ford High School |
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As a student at the University of Central High School you will be required to take many types of assessments and evaluations through out your career here. Most of these assessments will be given to you by your individual teacher in the subject area of your classes. However, there are occasions in which you will be assessed, or tested, on a state or national level. These are standardized tests and the following guide is to help you understand the importance of these tests and how they will impact you and your education.
Listed below is a chart of all the standardized testing that you will encounter in high school. Not all will apply to you, some are required and some are not. Please read through the guide and see your counselor if you have any questions. |
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Test Name
9th grade
10th grade
11th grade
12th grade
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EXPLORE -- This is the first one of three tests that is a part of the ACT family. EXPLORE is English, Math, Reading and Science assessments. It helps students plan for high school courses, prepare for the ACT and choose a career direction. Students in Farmington Public Schools middle schools take EXPLORE in 8th grade, if a 9th grade student is new to the district, he/she would take the EXPLORE in September of their 9th grade year.
MEAP – Throughout elementary and middle school, students take the MEAP (Michigan Educational Assessment Program) in various subject areas. In high school, 9th grade is the last time they take the MEAP in the area of Social Studies. This test assess the 8th grade Social Studies curriculum. The test is given in October, usually the same time the 10th graders take the PLAN.
GATES-MACGINTIE – The Gates-MacGintie Reading Test is a way for teachers to obtain the general level of reading achievement for individual students. There are two tests, Vocabulary and Comprehension. The vocabulary portion consists of 45 questions regarding words and phrases in context. The comprehension portion measures a student’s ability to read and understand different types of prose of 11 passages that vary in length and subject matter. These 48 questions are looking to determine understanding. The tests are timed and the readomg scores are intended to provide information for teachers to make instructional decisions that best support each student’s learning.
PSAT – This test is the practice test for the SAT. The PSAT, when taken as a junior, is the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship program. 10th graders may test, but their scores are not used for National Merit. This test is given on either a Wednesday or a Saturday in October and the date is decided by College Board. Students are not required to take this test, but it is recommended as a practice standardized test.
PLAN – This is the second of the three tests that are a part of the ACT family. It is the practice for the ACT and is also used for students who are seeking Dual Enrollment as a junior. It is given free of charge in October on the same date as the 9th grade MEAP. The PLAN helps students identify career and educational options, establish goals, determine courses needed to fulfill plans and evaluates educational/career progress. The results will provide the student areas of strength and areas that need improvement and how to improve before the ACT the following year.
ASVAB – The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is offered free of charge by the military. There are comprehensive career components as well as components of math, science and English curriculum. Vocational aptitude is also assessed.
MME – The Michigan Merit Exam is a graduation requirement of Farmington Public Schools. The three days of testing include the ACT Plus Writing, (college admission exam, free of charge), ACT WorkKeys, Michigan Math, Science and Social Studies. It is given in the March of the junior year and is not available for repeat testing. If students wish to restest, then they will need to sign up and pay for the ACT on a national test date.
Students who complete the MME are eligible for the Michigan Promise Scholarship. By Spring of a student’s senior year, he/she will receive a pin number for them to certify their award to a specific college or university. For more information, go to www.mighigan.gov/promise.
ACT – College entrance exam accepted by all US colleges and universities and offered on Saturdays six times a year. Since it is in alignment with high school curriculum, ACT recommends that the September, October and December dates are for high school seniors, the February date for seniors and select juniors and April and June for juniors. Princeton Review will be having an ACT course at Farmington High. Click here for more information
While FHS recommends some form of test preparation for the ACT, the best preparation is for students to successfully complete a curriculum that meets the core requirements for college readiness. Through its graduation requirements, Farmington Public Schools offers our students this opportunity, however, many students choose to go with outside preparation companies. While FHS offers a wide variety of these courses, it does not endorse one particular method of outside test preparation. Often these companies apply too much pressure on testing too much and too often. ACT and colleges/universities recommend one to two restest times once the MME has been completed by the student. More information on the ACT can be found on their website at www.actstudent.org.
SAT – This is another college admission exam which is the preferred test for schools in other parts of the country, specifically the Ivy League and the highly competitive schools of California and New York. Some schools also require the SAT Subject Tests. October, November and December dates are recommended for seniors, January, March, May and June are recommended for juniors. Fees, test sites and registration information can be found at www.collegeboard.com.
AP – The College Boards Advanced Placement program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college level courses while still in high school. Students pay for the exams and register in early March. These tests begin the first Monday in May and the schedule is determined by College Board. It is up to each individual college and/or university to award credit. More information can be found at www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy.
NAEP – The National Assessment of Educational Progress is given by the US Department of Education and tells what American students know and can do in key subject areas. It is free of charge and students are selected by the NAEP committee. Students who take NAEP at Farmington High School earn 1.5 hours of community service for taking part in NAEP. More information can be found at www.mighigan/gov/naep. |
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